Fluid transfer system having transfer device and dry break coupler

Abstract

A fluid transfer system includes a transfer device coupled to a dry break coupler. The transfer device includes a valve assembly moveable between an open and a closed position. The valve assembly includes a main valve moveable between a closed-main valve position and an open-main valve position in response to movement of an actuator and a pilot valve moveable between a closed-pilot valve position and an open-pilot valve position in response to movement of the actuator. A configuration of the coupler and the transfer device is coupled together, the coupler valve being in the closed-coupler valve position and the main valve being in the closed-main valve position. A space between a face of the main valve and a face of the coupler valve is minimized to reduce fluid emissions upon uncoupling the transfer device from the coupler.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid transfer system comprising:
 a coupler defining a coupler inlet and a coupler outlet and a coupler valve disposed therein and being moveable between an open-coupler valve position and a closed-coupler valve position; 
 a transfer device defining an inlet and an outlet, an actuator having a grasping portion moveable fore and aft, said actuator moveable between a first position and a second position, and a valve assembly disposed therein and operatively coupled to said actuator, said valve assembly including a main valve moveable between a closed-main valve position and an open-main valve position in response to movement of said actuator and a pilot valve moveable between a closed-pilot valve position and an open-pilot valve position in response to movement of said actuator wherein said main valve is in said closed-main valve position and said pilot valve is in said closed-pilot valve position when said actuator is in said first position; and 
 wherein a configuration of said coupler and said transfer device being coupled together, said coupler valve being in said closed-coupler valve position and said main valve being in said closed-main valve position, a space between a face of said main valve and a face of said coupler valve is located within said outlet of said transfer device to reduce fluid emissions upon uncoupling said transfer device from said coupler. 
 
     
     
       2. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said minimized space is achieved due to a proximity of said main valve to said outlet and a proximity of said coupler valve to said coupler inlet. 
     
     
       3. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said coupler valve includes a valve face of a circular shape. 
     
     
       4. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said main valve includes a valve face of a circular shape. 
     
     
       5. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said coupler includes a coupler spring continuously biasing said coupler valve in said closed-coupler valve position. 
     
     
       6. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said coupler valve includes a guide rod and a guide mount fixed to said coupler and slidably receiving said guide rod as said coupler valve moves between said open-coupler valve position and said closed-coupler valve position. 
     
     
       7. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said coupler includes a coupler seal on said coupler valve to prevent fluid from leaking out of said coupler when said coupler valve is in said closed-coupler valve position. 
     
     
       8. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said transfer device includes a rotatable connector for connection to said coupler. 
     
     
       9. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said connector includes a collar having threads. 
     
     
       10. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said coupler has a threaded portion adjacent said coupler inlet. 
     
     
       11. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said threads of said collar threadably engages said threaded portion in said configuration. 
     
     
       12. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said coupler includes a pressure relief valve. 
     
     
       13. A fluid transfer system comprising:
 a coupler including a coupler housing defining a coupler inlet and a coupler outlet, a coupler valve disposed in said coupler housing being moveable between an open-coupler valve position and a closed-coupler valve position, and a coupler spring continuously biasing said coupler valve in said closed-coupler valve position; 
 a transfer device including a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, an actuator having a grasping portion moveable fore and aft, said actuator moveable between a first position and a second position relative to said housing, and a valve assembly disposed in said housing and operatively coupled to said actuator, said valve assembly including a main valve moveable between a closed-main valve position and an open-main valve position in response to movement of said actuator and a pilot valve moveable between a closed-pilot valve position and an open-pilot valve position in response to movement of said actuator wherein said main valve is in said closed-main valve position and said pilot valve is in said closed-pilot valve position when said actuator is in said first position; and 
 wherein a configuration of said coupler and said transfer device being coupled together, said coupler valve being in said closed-coupler valve position and said main valve being in said closed-main valve position, a space between a face of said main valve and a coupler valve face of said coupler valve is an axial distance less than an axial thickness of said coupler valve face due to a proximity of said main valve to said outlet and a proximity of said coupler valve to said coupler inlet to reduce fluid emissions upon uncoupling said transfer device from said coupler. 
 
     
     
       14. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said transfer device includes a connector coupled to said housing for connection to said coupler. 
     
     
       15. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said connector includes a collar being rotatable relative to said housing and having threads. 
     
     
       16. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said coupler has a threaded portion on said coupler housing adjacent said coupler inlet. 
     
     
       17. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said threads of said collar threadably engages said threaded portion in said configuration. 
     
     
       18. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said coupler valve includes a valve face of a circular shape. 
     
     
       19. A fluid transfer system as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said main valve includes a valve face of a circular shape. 
     
     
       20. A fluid transfer system comprising:
 a coupler defining a coupler bore, a coupler inlet, and a coupler outlet, a coupler valve disposed in said coupler bore being moveable between an open-coupler valve position and a closed-coupler valve position, a coupler seal disposed on said coupler valve to prevent fluid from leaking out of said coupler when said coupler valve is in said closed-coupler valve position, a coupler spring continuously biasing said coupler valve in said closed-coupler valve position, and a threaded portion adjacent said coupler inlet; 
 a transfer device including a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, an actuator having a grasping portion moveable fore and aft, said actuator moveable between a first position and a second position relative to said housing, and a valve assembly disposed in said housing and operatively coupled to said actuator, said valve assembly including a main valve moveable between a closed-main valve position and an open-main valve position in response to movement of said actuator and a pilot valve moveable between a closed-pilot valve position and an open-pilot valve position in response to movement of said actuator wherein said main valve is in said closed-main valve position and said pilot valve is in said closed-pilot valve position when said actuator is in said first position, and a collar being coupled to said housing and rotatable relative to said housing, said collar including threads; and 
 wherein said threads of said collar threadably engages said threaded portion of said coupler in a configuration of said coupler and said transfer device being coupled together and said coupler valve being in said closed-coupler valve position and said main valve being in said closed-main valve position, wherein said coupler valve extends through said coupler outlet an axial distance to form a space between a face of said main valve and a face of said coupler valve that is less than the axial distance due to a proximity of said main valve to said outlet and a proximity of said coupler valve to said coupler inlet to reduce fluid emissions upon uncoupling said transfer device from said coupler.